System of illumination.



C. P. STEINMETZ. SYQTEM OF ILLUMINATION.

Arrmognon FILED JUNE 21, 1907.

9453,5990. Patented Jan. 11, 1910.

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,' SYSTEM- OF ILLUMINATION.

I Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jan. 11, 1910. Application filed Junem,

1907. Serialhlo. 360,061.

To all whom alt may concern:

Be it known that 1; CHARLES P. S'rnnn METZ, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Systems of Illumination, of which the following is a and in which the several elements of the specification. p My present invention relates to a system of electrical illumination in which a 'higg efficiency of conversion into light is obtaine system cooperate to insure a reliable and convenient arrangement The system in cludes a 'vapor electricdevice such as a mercury lamp; certain anodes of this device are connected in circuit with incandescent lamps in such a way that the current flowing to these anodes traverses the incahdescent lam s and renders them effective as sources of illumination. a,

The details of m understood by re erence to the following description taken in connection with the drawing accompanying this specificationand forminga part; thereof.

In the drawing is shown a mercury vapor lamp 1 provided with main anodes 2 and 3,

' nected with the and these connectlons include the incande s'- auxiliary anodes 4 and -5, and a mercury cathode 6. The main anodes are mounted in a condensing chamber at the top of the tube and the auxiliary anodes 4 and 5 are mounted on projecting arms located in proximity to the mercury cathode. The anode 5 may be mounted on a flexible conductor 7 in such a way that-it isfree to move up and down and thereby make and break contact with" the mercury cathode-.6. This move inent may be effected by means of a mag-.-

netizable plunger 8 inclosed in azfgirertical projection of the evacuated envelop and surrounded with a solenoid 9-con nected in circuit with theanode.

Electrical energy is supplied to the de r vice through alternati ng current mains 10 and 11 connected respectively to main anodes 2 and 3 and also connected to cathode 6 through suitable maintaining reactan'ces 12 and'13. The functions of the latter are well understood and ne The supply mains 10 "and 11 are also con- 'auxiliary anodes 4 and 5 cent electric lamps 14 and 15.; I prefer 'thatthese lampsshallbe of such a nature I invention will be better energy ed not be set forth herein.

so that then resistance at starting will be comparatively low andwill increase rapidly as the flow of current increases. 3 Tungsten lamps posses su ch characteristics, and are well adapted for use in' this relation.

At starting, the auxiliary anode 5 is in contact with the mercury cathode 6 and energy flows from the distributing main- 11 through incandescent lamp 15 and solenoid 9 to anode 5 and then through cathode 6 and re'actance 12 back to the other main. This current energizes the solenoid and lifts the anode, -thereb producin the urface o the catho e. The low initialv resistan ce of the incandescent lamp 15 permits a relatively heavy starting current and the side branch are maintained at cathode 6 by anodes 4 and 5 will be ample to ionize the entire tube and start the flow of current from main anodes 2 and 3. As soon as the main anodes start, the'flow of current to the auxillaryv anodes reduces greatly; it does not however entirely cease. There is no necessity for continuing the flow of current from anodes 4 and 5 after the lamp starts and, in fact, .so far as the vapor device is concerned, the continuance of current throug these auxiliary.

anodes represents consumption of energy 3 with very little return in light. By the use,

as to have a positive temperature coeflicienta starting are at 7O however, of incandescent lamps 14 and 15,

this diverted current, oras we may call it, leakage current, is put toa useful purpose. Moreover, by perm'ittin' the currents tween the aux'liary ano esand the cathode to flow, thfgbility of the lamp is increasedesire so that "f d the current in the main are or arcs maybe run, at a lower value than would" otherwise be ossible. This permits the lamp to be made in smaller light units. The incandescent lamps are preferably ofsue-1,: resistance that the greater part ofthe flowing threthrough is consumed in not in the starting arcs. This accoinplished, particularly if we use-metal filament lamps'having a low "starting resistance and ahigh running resistance. The low starting resistance permits the passage. of ample starting current the-lamp and is very easily through the vapor device and the high run--' ning resistance concentrates in the the 'reater pro ortion of the energy dissipated 1n the starting circuit during normal opera tion of the system. i

The system as a whole isentirelyauto,-

matio and self starting and the light obtained is 'orthochromic in character and therefore, for certain purposes, of better quality than that produced solely by a mercury vapor device. What I claim as new and desire to scour by Letters Patent of the United States, is,- 1. The combination of a vapor electric device having main anodes and a cathode, auxiliary anodes for said device, and a metal filament lamp permanently connected in circuit with each auxiliary anode. 2. The combination of a vapor electric device, means for passing current therethrough, a starting anode for said device, and a tung sien lamp in circuit with said starting anode to limit the flow of current thereto and to convert into light the greater part of the energy passing by way of said anode during thenormal' operation of the vapor device.

3. The combination of a vapor electric de- -vice having main anodes and a cathode, a

source of alternating current connected to said anodes, starting anodes for said vapor device, and metal filament lamps connected between said starting anodes and said source of alternating current.

4. The combination of a vapor electric device having a main anode and a cathode, means for passing current from said anode to said cathode, a starting anode for said device, and a 'metal filament lamp connected between said starting anode and said main anode. 7

5. The combination of an alternating current source, a vapor electric device having anodes connected therewith, a cathode for said device, auxiliary anodes in proximity to said cathode, metal filament lamps confrom said cathode to said source of alternatmg current.

6. The combination of a vapor electric device, means for supplying current thereto, a continuously operating side branch path for said device, and a tungsten lamp consuming the greater part of the energy of the curflent passing through said side branch p 7 The combination with a vapor electric device having a main anode, a cathode and amovable auxiliary anode initially contacting with said cathode, of electrically operated means for moving said auxiliary anode, and a metal filament lamp in circuit with said auxiliary anode andsaid electrically operated means.

8. The combination of a vaporizable cathode, main anodes for supplying current to said cathode through a relatively long vapor path, auxiliary anodes supplying additional current to said cathode through short vapor paths, and incandescent lamps in circuit with said auxiliary anodes and of such resistance that the energy consumption of a lamp is greater than that of the corresponding short vapor path. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 19th day of June, 1907.

, CHARLES P. STEINMEIZ.

Witnesses:

BENJAMIN B. HULL, HELEN ORFORD. 

